Does Crying Turn Tympanic Membranes Red?

Abstract

The diagnosis of acute otitis media is based on several clinical factors. One of these factors is the color of the tympanic membrane (TM). Crying can cause flushing and hyperemia of the face. The purpose of this study is to determine whether crying affects the color of tympanic membranes. Infants and toddlers (age 30 months or less) evaluated in an outpatient clinic or primary care pediatrician’s office for routine well-baby checks who received at least 2 parenteral immunizations were enrolled on a convenience basis. Ill children were excluded. The initial physician assessed crying and TM color/visibility. Following immunizations, a second physician assessed crying and the TM color/visibility. Color differences were stratified by the degree of crying. One hundred twenty-one study subjects received 2-5 parenteral immunizations. TM colors were most often in the pink range or less. Only 2 TMs were assessed as light red and none were assessed as red. Twenty-eight percent of the TMs with greater crying on the second exam were noted to be redder on the second exam compared to the first exam versus 11% for the comparison group (p=0.0007); 19% of the TMs with greater crying on the second exam were noted to be redder by 2 or more increment levels compared to the first exam versus 5% for the comparison group (p=0.0004); 31% of the TMs with greater crying on the second exam at the 3+ and 4+ level were noted to be redder on the second exam compared to the first exam versus 14% for the comparison group (p=0.003). Our data indicate that, in some instances, crying can result in an increase in pinkness of the TM. Crying in well children does not result in a red tympanic membrane.